John Gwynne
I am the author of epic fantasy series The Faithful and the Fallen, Of Blood and Bone and The Bloodsworn Saga. I'm also a Viking re-enactor and enjoy nothing more than standing in the shield wall with my three sons, who are as passionate about swords and axes as I am (when I'm not stuck in my coat of mail; it's harder than it looks). I live on the south coast of the UK with my beautiful wife, three sons and my daughter, and an assortment of animals (at the moment three dogs, a horse and a lamb who thinks she's a dog).My dogs think I am their slave. Malice, my debut novel, was published by Pan Macmillan in 2012 and went on to win the David Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Fantasy Debut of 2012. That was a truly wonderful moment, as David Gemmell is a hero of mine and one of the reasons I write.The following three books in the series - Valour, Ruin and Wrath, were all shortlisted for the David Gemmell Legend Award for Best Fantasy Novels of 2014, 2015 and 2016, with Wrath winning the 2017 BookNest Awards for Best Traditionally Published Novel.My second series, of Blood and Bone, is set in the Banished Lands, the same world as the first series. Book 1, A Time of Dread, begins 130 years after the events of the first series. A Time of Courage, book 3 Of Blood and Bone, made the Spiegel Bestseller's List in Germany. My latest book, The Shadow of the Gods, book 1 of the Bloodsworn Saga, will be published in May 2021. It is inspired by Norse mythology, Beowulf and Ragnarök. I am represented by Julie Crisp.
A Time of Blood (Of Blood and Bone, #2)
John Gwynne
Defy the darkness. Defend the light.
Drem and his friends are haunted by the horrors they witnessed at the battle at Starstone Lake: the screams of men being warped into beasts and the sight of a demon rising from the dead. But worse than any memory is Fritha, the demons' deadly high priestess. And she is hunting them.
Concealed in Forn Forest, Riv knows her very existence is a threat to the Ben-Elim. She represents their most dangerous secret, and if the warrior angels find her, they won't hesitate to silence her.
As the demonic forces multiply, they send a mighty host to overthrow the angel's stronghold. Like heroes of old, Drem, Riv, and the Bright Star's warriors must battle to save themselves and save their land. But can the light triumph when the dark is rising?
A Time of Courage (Of Blood and Bone, #3)
John Gwynne
Battle the dark
Reclaim the world
The Demon-King of the Otherworld is finally free. And armed with mighty new starstone weapons, Asroth prepares to lead his demonic war-host south. With the help of his dark bride Fritha, he plans to crush the warrior-angels and their allies.
In the shadows of Forn Forest, Riv and the surviving Ben-Elim hold a war council. After the catastrophic events at Drassil, they are desperate to unite those who would stand against Asroth and his army. So they fly west, to join the Order of the Bright Star. But Drem and the Order are besieged by a demon horde – and their fragile defence may soon shatter.
Across the Banished Lands armies are heading south, to settle ancient grudges and decide the fate of humanity. Drem, Riv and the Bright Star’s warriors will need every ounce of their courage if they are to join the final battle. But will their combined forces be enough to face down their greatest foe?
In A Time of Courage, angels, demons and heroes face the ultimate fight for the Banished Lands. Thousands of years of enmity will be put to the test, in the epic conclusion to John Gwynne's mighty trilogy.
'Reminds me of why I became a fantasy enthusiast in the first place'
Robin Hobb on A Time of Dread
'This book is so damned good . . . John Gwynne writes fantasy with the heart of a hero and the inventiveness of a master mage'
Sebastien de Castell
A Time of Dread (Of Blood and Bone, #1)
John Gwynne
A race of warrior angels, the Ben-Elim, once vanquished a mighty demon horde. Now they rule the Banished lands, but their peace is brutally enforced.
In the south, hotheaded Riv is desperate to join the Ben-Elim's peacekeeping force, until she unearths a deadly secret.
In the west, the giantess Sig investigates demon sightings and discovers signs of an uprising and black magic.
And in the snowbound north, Drem, a trapper, finds mutilated corpses in the forests. The work of a predator, or something far darker?It's a time of shifting loyalties and world-changing dangers. Difficult choices need to be made. Because in the shadows, demons are gathering, waiting for their time to rise...
Better to Live than to Die (The Faithful and the Fallen #0.5)
John Gwynne
"Better to Live than to Die" was published in the anthology Tales of Assassins, Mercenaries, and Rogues . About this story, author John Gwynne says, "The Banished Lands has a violent past, where men and giants clashed in a war for supremacy and near-extinction for the vanquished. Now men rule the land, giants little more than a memory, lurking in the wilds and dark places. This tale takes place ten years before the events of Malice , book one of The Faithful and the Fallen, within the Darkwood, a great forest that splits the western realms of Ardan and Narvon. It recounts a key moment in the life of a young bowman, Camlin, who is part of the Darkwood Brigands—a moment that has far reaching consequences for the great conflict to come."
Bosheit (Die Getreuen und die Gefallenen , #2)
John Gwynne
Die Götter Asroth und Elyon haben die Verfemten Lande zum Schlachtfeld ihres Krieges auserkoren. Um ihre Armeen in die Welt der Sterblichen zu entsenden, hat jeder Gott einen Avatar als Paladin erwählt: die Schwarze Sonne und den Strahlenden Stern. Zumindest besagt dies eine uralte Prophezeiung...
Hochkönig Nathair ist überzeugt, dass er der Strahlende
Stern ist - dazu auserkoren, den dunklen Gott Asroth
aufzuhalten. Auf der Suche nach seinem finsteren Gegenspieler
begegnet Nathair dem jungen Krieger Corban, den er für
die Schwarze Sonne hält. Doch der König ahnt nicht, dass er
selbst eine Spielfigur in Asroths tödlichem Plan ist...
Cień bogów (Saga o Krwiozaprzysiężonych #1)
John Gwynne
Życie w cieniu martwych bogów nie jest łatwe. W świecie zniszczonym przez boski gniew i zazdrość, musisz mieć wiele, aby przetrwać. A żeby się rozwijać? Cóż, potrzebujesz znacznie więcej. Woli zwycięstwa. Umiejętności zabijania i unikania śmierci. A także oddziału niebezpiecznych i lojalnych przyjaciół, abyś nigdy nie musiał mierzyć się z krwawym chaosem życia sam. Urodziłam się dla zgiełku bitwy i muru tarcz. Zbuduję własną reputację, kocham to, nie oddam się niczemu innemu. Elvara Mężczyźni umierają, kobiety umierają, wszystkie istoty z krwi i kości umierają, ale sława bitewna przetrwa. Tego chcę, tego chcemy wszyscy. Varg Mój synu, jeśli tu jesteś, znajdę cię. A każdy, kto stanie mi na drodze, będzie żałował, że to zrobił. Orka Bardziej epickiej historii raczej nie przeczytacie!
Die Zeit der Finsternis (Blut und Knochen, #3)
John Gwynne
Die Zeit der Schatten (Blut und Knochen #1)
John Gwynne
Die Verfemten Lande haben den Krieg überstanden, doch die Herrschaft der siegreichen Ben-Elim wird bedroht. Die Anzeichen häufen sich, dass ihre Erzfeinde, brutale Dämonenwesen, zurückkommen. Im verschneiten Norden findet der Pelzjäger Drem zerfetzte Leichen im Wald – scheinbar Opfer schwarzer Magie. Im Süden gerät Riv, eine ungestüme junge Soldatin, in einen Konflikt mit den Ben-Elim. Drem und Riv hüten Geheimnisse, die das Schicksal der Verfemten Lande verändern könnten. Doch sie wissen nicht, welche Rolle sie spielen werden. Und in den Schatten warten die Dämonen nur darauf, sich zurückzuholen, was früher ihnen gehörte.
Die Zeit des Feuers (Blut und Knochen, #2)
John Gwynne
Głód bogów (Saga o Krwiozaprzysiężonych, #2)
John Gwynne
Powstają martwi bogowie.
Lik-Rifa – mityczna smocza bogini, której cień wywołuje dreszcz, a ryk zapowiada koniec świata – wydostała się z więzienia i ma tylko jeden cel: zanurzyć świat we krwi.
Orka przemierza południowe krainy, by odnaleźć porwanego syna, a Krwiozaprzysiężeni desperacko szukają sposobu, by ocalić swoją wiedźmę.
Varg wkracza na drogę zemsty, ucząc się, że wybranie tej ścieżki wiąże się z ofiarami, o których wolałby zapomnieć.
Elvara z całych sił stara się wypełnić krwioprzysięgę. Niestety, nawet połączone siły śmiertelnych i nieśmiertelnych są tylko kroplą w oceanie wobec mocy smoczycy.
Ostatnia nadzieja leży w księdze, którą pozostawiła szalona bogini – zakazana magia, która może przywrócić wilczego boga Ulfrira z martwych. Ale magia ma swoją cenę, a powrót bogów zwiastuje bitwę, jakiej świat jeszcze nie widział.
Gdy starzy bogowie powstaną, niebo spłonie.
Jähzorn (Die Getreuen und die Gefallenen, #3)
John Gwynne
Die Verfemten Lande versinken in Krieg und Chaos: Die dämonischen Kadoshim sind kurz davor, ihrem Herrscher Asroth Einlass in die Welt der Sterblichen zu gewähren. Doch damit dieses teuflische Unterfangen gelingt, benötigen die Dämonen die sagenumwobenen Sieben Kostbarkeiten.
Das mächtigste dieser Artefakte hält allerdings König Nathair in seinen Händen, während sich unbemerkt eine Rebellion gegen ihn erhebt. Denn zusammen mit seinen mutigen Gefährten und einer sprechenden Krähe macht sich Corban auf zur mystischen Feste Drassil, wo ein weiterer Schatz verborgen zu sein scheint ...
La Confrérie du Sang
John Gwynne
La sombra de los dioses (Hermanos de sangre, #1)
John Gwynne
Primera novela de esta trilogía de fantasía épica con inspiración vikinga.
Ha pasado un siglo desde que los dioses lucharon y se extinguieron. Ahora solo quedan sus huesos, que prometen un gran poder a aquellos lo suficientemente valientes como para buscarlos.
Mientras los susurros de guerra resuenan en la tierra de Vigrið, el destino sigue los pasos de tres guerreros: una cazadora en una búsqueda peligrosa, una mujer noble que busca la fama en la batalla y un esclavo que busca venganza entre los mercenarios conocidos como los Hermanos de Sangre.
Los tres darán forma al destino del mundo, ya que una vez más cae bajo la sombra de los dioses.
L'ombra degli dei (The Bloodsworn Saga, #1)
John Gwynne
L'Ombre des dieux
John Gwynne
Après une guerre dévastatrice ayant mené à leur extinction, les dieux ont laissé derrière eux une plaine dévastée, Vígríd. Que ce soit à l'ombre de la chaîne de montagnes constituée des os d'un ancien dieu ou dans leurs ports abrités au fond des fjords, les humains survivent aux incursions des vaesens, de terrifiants monstres vivant de l'autre côté de l'unique passe séparant leurs terres. Au milieu de conflits de pouvoir entre les différents jarls, une menace semble émerger alors que les enlèvements d'enfants se multiplient.
Après une vie tumultueuse, Orka a raccroché son épée pour élever son fils, Breca. Mais les événements qui bouleversent Vígríd vont l’amener à ressusciter son passé guerrier. De son côté, Varg, un ancien esclave à la recherche des assassins de sa soeur va croiser le chemin d’une compagnie de mercenaires, la Confrérie du Sang. Au milieu des guerriers, il va découvrir peu à peu ce qu’il n’a jamais connu dans sa vie : la chaleur de l’amitié et de la camaraderie, et peut-être sa propre humanité. Au sein d'un autre groupe de mercenaires, Elvar, qui a rejeté son héritage familial et intégré les Chiens de Guerre, craint de voir son passé ressurgir.
Dans l'ombre des dieux morts, un autre conflit, peut-être plus dévastateur encore, pourrait plonger une fois de plus Vígríd dans le chaos.
Macht (Die Getreuen und die Gefallenen, #1)
John Gwynne
In den Verfemten Landen stehen die Zeichen auf Krieg. Der junge Corban, eigentlich dazu bestimmt, Schmied zu werden, hat nur einen Wunsch: Er möchte seinem König Brenin als Krieger dienen und in den bevorstehenden Kampf ziehen. Sein Traum scheint wahr zu werden - aber das Gefährliche an Träumen ist, dass sie sich selten so erfüllen, wie man es sich wünscht. Und als die Feinde der Gerechtigkeit sich auf dem Schlachtfeld formieren, entscheidet sich nicht nur Corbans Schicksal ...
Malice: Book One of The Faithful and the Fallen (Faithful & the Fallen 1) by Gwynne, John (2013) Paperback
John Gwynne
Malice (The Faithful and the Fallen, #1)
John Gwynne
A black sun is rising …
Young Corban watches enviously as boys become warriors under King Brenin’s rule, learning the art of war. He yearns to wield his sword and spear to protect his king’s realm. But that day will come all too soon. Only when he loses those he loves will he learn the true price of courage.
The Banished Lands has a violent past where armies of men and giants clashed shields in battle, the earth running dark with their heartsblood. Although the giant-clans were broken in ages past, their ruined fortresses still scar the land. But now giants stir anew, the very stones weep blood and there are sightings of giant wyrms. Those who can still read the signs see a threat far greater than the ancient wars. Sorrow will darken the world, as angels and demons make it their battlefield. Then there will be a war to end all wars.
High King Aquilus summons his fellow kings to council, seeking an alliance in this time of need. Some are skeptical, fighting their own border skirmishes against pirates and giants. But prophesy indicates darkness and light will demand two champions, the Black Sun and the Bright Star. They would be wise to seek out both, for if the Black Sun gains ascendancy, mankind’s hopes and dreams will fall to dust.
Nordnacht (Die Saga der Blutgeschworenen, #1)
John Gwynne
The Witcher meets Vikings: Der Auftakt der neuen düsteren High-Fantasy-Trilogie mit nordischen Göttern!
Die Romane von John Gwynne sind nichts für schwache Nerven: In England und in den USA steht der Autor für ein intensives, brutales und viele tausend Seiten umspannendes Fantasy-Erlebnis, das auch zahlreiche deutsche Leser begeistert hat. Jetzt erscheint Gwynnes neue Saga, die ihm den Durchbruch beschert: In »Nordnacht« treten Leser*innen eine Reise in eine Fantasywelt an, die der skandinavischen Mythologie entlehnt ist: Unheimliche Wesen, die an Andrzej Sapkowskis Monster erinnern, bevölkern den Norden. Ausgerechnet drei sterbliche Menschen müssen in dieser grausamen Welt bestehen und der größten Bedrohung entgegentreten: den von den Toten wiederauferstandenen Göttern...
Ruin (The Faithful and the Fallen, #3)
John Gwynne
The Banished Lands are engulfed in war and chaos. The cunning Queen Rhin has conquered the west and High King Nathair has the cauldron, most powerful of the seven treasures. At his back stands the scheming Calidus and a warband of the Kadoshim, dread demons of the Otherworld. They plan to bring Asroth and his host of the Fallen into the world of flesh, but to do so they need the seven treasures. Nathair has been deceived but now he knows the truth. He has choices to make, choices that will determine the fate of the Banished Lands. Elsewhere the flame of resistance is growing - Queen Edana finds allies in the swamps of Ardan. Maquin is loose in Tenebral, hunted by Lykos and his corsairs. Here he will witness the birth of a rebellion in Nathair's own realm. Corban has been swept along by the tide of war. He has suffered, lost loved ones, sought only safety from the darkness. But he will run no more. He has seen the face of evil and he has set his will to fight it. The question is, how? With a disparate band gathered about him - his family, friends, giants, fanatical warriors, an angel and a talking crow he begins the journey to Drassil, the fabled fortress hidden deep in the heart of Forn Forest. For in Drassil lies the spear of Skald, one of the seven treasures, and here it is prophesied that the Bright Star will stand against the Black Sun.
Stín bohů (Krvopřísežní, #1)
John Gwynne
The Fury of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga, #3)
John Gwynne
The Fury of the Gods is the earth-shattering final book in John Gwynne's bestselling Norse-inspired epic fantasy series, packed with myth, magic and bloody vengeance
THE FINAL BATTLE FOR THE FATE OF VIGRIÐ APPROACHES
Varg has overcome the trials of his past and become an accepted member of the Bloodsworn, but now he and his newfound comrades face their biggest challenge yet: slaying a dragon.
Elvar is struggling to consolidate her power in Snakavik, where she faces threats from within and without. As she fights to assert her authority in readiness for the coming conflict, she faces a surely insurmountable task: reining in the ferocity of a wolf god.
As Biorr and his warband make their way north, eager for blood, Gudvarr pursues a mission of his own, hoping to win Lik-Rifa's favour and further his own ambitions.
All paths lead to Snakavik, where the lines are being drawn for the final battle - a titanic clash that will shake the foundations of the world, and bear witness to the true fury of the gods.
The Hunger of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga, #2)
John Gwynne
THE DEAD GODS ARE RISING.
Lik-Rifa, the dragon god of legend, has been freed from her eternal prison. Now she plots a new age of blood and conquest.
As Orka continues the hunt for her missing son, the Bloodsworn sweep south in a desperate race to save one of their own–and Varg takes the first steps on the path of vengeance.
Elvar has sworn to fulfil her blood oath and rescue a prisoner from the clutches of Lik-Rifa and her dragonborn followers, but first she must persuade the Battle-Grim to follow her. Yet even the might of the Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim cannot stand alone against a dragon god.
Their only hope lies within the mad writings of a chained god. A book of forbidden magic with the power to raise the wolf god Ulfrir from the dead…and bring about a battle that will shake the foundations of the earth.
The Shadow of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga, #1)
John Gwynne
Set in a brand-new, Norse-inspired world, and packed with myth, magic and bloody vengeance, The Shadow of the Gods begins an epic new fantasy saga from bestselling author John Gwynne.
After the gods warred and drove themselves to extinction, the cataclysm of their fall shattered the land of Vigrið.
Now a new world is rising, where power-hungry jarls feud and monsters stalk the woods and mountains. A world where the bones of the dead gods still hold great power for those brave - or desperate - enough to seek them out.
Now, as whispers of war echo across the mountains and fjords, fate follows in the footsteps of three people: a huntress on a dangerous quest, a noblewoman who has rejected privilege in pursuit of battle fame, and a thrall who seeks vengeance among the famed mercenaries known as the Bloodsworn.
All three will shape the fate of the world as it once more falls under the shadow of the gods . . .
The Sundering (The Faithful and the Fallen, #0.1)
John Gwynne
Ungnade (Die Getreuen und die Gefallenen, #4)
John Gwynne
Der Kampf gegen die Dunkelheit ist noch nicht entschieden!
Der Krieg zwischen den Gerechten und den Gefallenen scheint entschieden: Der teuflische König Nathair ist in den Besitz aller sieben Kostbarkeiten gelangt, sodass er nun ein Portal für Asroth und seine Dämonenhorden öffnen kann. Der einzige, der den fehlgeleiteten König aufzuhalten vermag, ist Corban – doch der befindet sich in Gefangenschaft der Giganten. Um am Leben zu bleiben, muss er neue Verbündete unter diesen schrecklichen Feinden finden. Denn wenn Corban fällt, ist auch das Schicksal der Verfemten Lande entschieden ...
Valor (The Faithful and the Fallen, #2)
John Gwynne
The Banished Lands is torn by war as High King Nathair sweeps the land challenging all who oppose him in his holy crusade. Allied with the manipulative Queen Rhin of Cambren, there are few who can stand against them. But Rhin is playing her own games and has her eyes on a far greater prize... Left for dead, her kin fled and her country overrun with enemies, Cywen has no choice but to try to survive. But any chance of escape is futile once Nathair and his disquieting advisor Calidus realise who she is. They have no intention of letting such a prize from their grasp. For she may be their greatest chance at killing the biggest threat to their power. Meanwhile, the young warrior Corban flees from his conquered homeland with his exiled companions heading for the only place that may offer them sanctuary - Domhain. But to get there they must travel through Cambren avoiding warbands, giants and the vicious wolven of the mountains. And all the while Corban must battle to become the man that everyone believes him to be - the Bright Star and saviour of the Banished Lands. And in the Otherworld dark forces scheme to bring a host of the Fallen into the world of flesh to end the war with the Faithful, once and for all.
Valour (The Faithful and the Fallen, #2)
John Gwynne
The Banished Lands are torn by war as the army of High King Nathair sweeps the realm challenging all who oppose his holy crusade. Allied with the manipulative Queen Rhin of Cambren, there are few who can stand against him. But Rhin is playing her own games and has her eyes on a far greater prize . . . Left for dead – her kin have fled and her country is overrun with enemies – Cywen fights to survive. But any chance of escape is futile once Nathair and his disquieting advisor Calidus realize who she is. They have no intention of letting such a prize slip from their grasp. For she may be their one chance at killing the biggest threat to their power. Meanwhile, the young warrior Corban flees from his conquered homeland with his exiled companions, heading for the only place that may offer them sanctuary. But to get there they must travel through Cambren, avoiding warbands, giants and the vicious wolven of the mountains. And all the while Corban struggles to become the man that everyone believes him to be – the Bright Star and saviour of the Banished Lands. Embroiled in struggles for power and survival, the mortal world is unaware of the greatest threat of all. In the Otherworld, dark forces scheme to bring a host of the Fallen into the world of flesh to end the war with the Faithful, once and for all.
Wrath (The Faithful and the Fallen, #4)
John Gwynne
Events are coming to a climax in the Banished Lands, as the war reaches new heights. King Nathair has taken control of the fortress at Drassil and three of the Seven Treasures are in his possession. And together with Calidus and his ally Queen Rhin, Nathair will do anything to obtain the remaining Treasures. With all seven under his command, he can open a portal to the Otherworld. Then Asroth and his demon-horde will finally break into the Banished Lands and become flesh.
Meanwhile Corban has been taken prisoner by the Jotun, warrior giants who ride their enormous bears into battle. His warband scattered, Corban must make new allies if he hopes to survive. But can he bond with competing factions of warlike giants? Somehow he must, if he's to counter the threat Nathair represents.
His life hangs in the balance - and with it, the fate of the Banished Lands.
Zawiść (Wierni i Upadli, #1)
John Gwynne
Młody Corban z zazdrością przygląda się, jak chłopcy stają się wojownikami i wdrażają się w rzemiosło wojenne. Marzy o chwili, gdy sam ujmie miecz i włócznię, by bronić ziem swego króla. Ów dzień nadejdzie jednak zbyt wcześnie, a Corban pozna prawdziwą cenę odwagi dopiero, gdy straci swych bliskich.
Ziemie Wygnanych mają za sobą burzliwe dzieje. Przed setkami lat ludzie zwarli się w straszliwej wojnie z olbrzymami, a ziemia pociemniała od rozlanej krwi. Klany olbrzymów zostały ostatecznie rozbite, lecz ich zrujnowane fortece nadal szpecą krajobraz. Dziś jednakże olbrzymi znów się budzą do działania, starożytne głazy płaczą krwawymi łzami, a pogłoski mówią o pojawieniu się ogromnych białożmijów. Nadchodzi czas, kiedy spowity smutkiem i rozpaczą świat stanie się polem bitwy dla aniołów i demonów. Nadchodzi wojna, która położy kres wszystkim innym wojnom.
Najwyższy Król Aquilus wzywa innych władców na radę, chcąc utworzyć sojusz na naciągające ciężkie czasy. Wedle prastarej przepowiedni ciemność i światło powołają swoich czempionów: Czarne Słońce i Jasną Gwiazdę. Ludzkość musi odnaleźć ich obu i to szybko, bo jeśli Czarne Słońce zdobędzie przewagę, wszelkie marzenia i nadzieje zamienią się w pył.
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